System and method for using a webpad to control a data stream

Abstract

A system and method for using a webpad to select a target device which is to receive from a source device a stream of a digital representation of a media. The webpad is used to send a transmission to the source device to cause the source device to route the stream of the digital representation of the media to the target device where the target device decodes and converts the digital representation of the media into analog signals to thereby allow for a reproduction of the media.

1. A method comprising:
 receiving, at a remote device, a user selection of a target device to receive a stream of digital media from a source device via a local area network (LAN); and 
 in response to the user selection, sending a wireless transmission from the remote device to the source device to cause the source device to route the stream of digital media to the target device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote device is a hand-held webpad device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target device is configured to decode and convert the stream of digital media into analog signals to create a reproduction of the digital media. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decoding and converting, at the remote device, the stream of digital media into analog signals to create a reproduction of the digital media. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on the remote device, and wherein the step of receiving a user selection comprises receiving the user selection via the GUI. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the GUI is configured to display a playlist comprising a list of digital media. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote device comprises an adapter module configured for communication with a personal digital assistant, the method further comprising exchanging, via the adapter module, wirelessly transmitted communications between the source device and the personal digital assistant. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source device comprises a personal computer. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the remote device, ancillary data related to the stream of digital media from the source device. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the ancillary data comprises an ancillary content link, and wherein the ancillary content link comprises a link to a webpage that relates to subject matter of the stream of digital media. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising displaying the ancillary data via a user interface. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving an input requesting more information about the ancillary data. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising transmitting a message that causes a server to aggregate information related to the ancillary data and present the aggregated information via a webpage. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the remote device, a control input, wherein the control input is configured to control at least one of playback of the digital media at the target device or transmission of the stream of digital media to the target device. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the control input comprises an input to start the playback, stop the playback, pause the playback, or skip to a subsequent track. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising sending a command to the target device to effect the playback of the digital media in accordance with the control input. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus comprising:
 a user interface configured to receive an input from a user; and 
 a control application configured to:
 initiate and control a stream of digital media from a source device; and 
 select an intended target device for the stream of digital media from the source device based on the received input from the user. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus comprises a hand-held webpad device. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a processor configured to decode and convert the stream of digital media into analog signals to create a reproduction of the digital media. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface is configured to display a playlist comprising a list of digital media. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising an adapter module configured for communication with a personal digital assistant, wherein the adapter module is configured to exchange wirelessly transmitted communications between the source device and the personal digital assistant. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the source device comprises a personal computer. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface is further configured to receive ancillary data related to the stream of digital media from the source device. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the ancillary data comprises an ancillary content link, and wherein the ancillary content link comprises a link to a webpage that relates to subject matter of the stream of digital media. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the user interface is configured to display the ancillary data. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the user interface is further configured to receive an input requesting more information about the ancillary data. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a message that causes a server to aggregate information related to the ancillary data and present the aggregated information via a webpage. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface is further configured to receive a control input configured to control at least one of playback of the digital media at the target device or transmission of the stream of digital media to the target device. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the control input comprises an input to start the playback, stop the playback, pause the playback, or skip to a subsequent track. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a transmitter configured to send a command to the target device to effect the playback of the digital media in accordance with the control input. 
     
     
       31. A tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a user selection of an intended target device to receive a stream of digital media from a source device via a local area network (LAN); and 
 in response to the user selection, sending a wireless transmission to the source device to cause the source device to route the stream of digital media to the intended target device. 
 
     
     
       32. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the tangible computer-readable medium is embodied in a hand-held webpad device. 
     
     
       33. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the intended target device is configured to decode and convert the stream of digital media into analog signals to create a reproduction of the digital media. 
     
     
       34. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions, upon execution by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations further comprising decoding and converting the stream of digital media into analog signals to create a reproduction of the digital media. 
     
     
       35. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions, upon execution by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations further comprising displaying a graphical user interface (GUI), and wherein the step of receiving a user selection comprises receiving the user selection via the GUI. 
     
     
       36. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the GUI is configured to display a playlist comprising a list of digital media. 
     
     
       37. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions, upon execution by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations further comprising receiving ancillary data related to the stream of digital media from the source device. 
     
     
       38. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the ancillary data comprises an ancillary content link, and wherein the ancillary content link comprises a link to a webpage that relates to subject matter of the stream of digital media. 
     
     
       39. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the instructions, upon execution by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations further comprising displaying the ancillary data via a user interface. 
     
     
       40. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 39 , wherein the instructions, upon execution by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations further comprising, in response to receiving an input requesting more information about the ancillary data, transmitting a message that causes a server to aggregate information related to the ancillary data and present the aggregated information via a webpage. 
     
     
       41. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions, upon execution by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations further comprising controlling at least one of playback of the digital media at the target device or control transmission of the stream of digital media to the target device in response to receiving a control input via a user interface. 
     
     
       42. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 41 , wherein the control input comprises an input to start the playback, stop the playback, pause the playback, or skip to a subsequent track. 
     
     
       43. The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 41 , wherein the instructions, upon execution by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations further comprising sending a command to the target device to effect the playback of the digital media in accordance with the control input.